Mindanaoan was invited to meet the What A Girl Wants (WAGW) CDO Young Ambassadors of Style 2012 last November 24, 2012 during the official launch of the WAGW Centrio Mall branch. It was an invitation I could never decline! Not only did I like the WAGW brand and the people behind it (did you know that popular Filipina fashion blogger Kryz Uy is their creative director?) and the organizers of the event (thank you Jaja and Vanessa!) but one of the style ambassadors was a dear friend and my brother (Bon of One Happy Story Photography) was the event’s official photographer 🙂 I was also asked to bring blogger-friends to the event and any event that makes it possible for bloggers to help promote great brands and products always has a plus on my book 🙂
The What A Girl Wants and What A Girl Wants Man Young Ambassadors of Style is an annual selection of the city’s fresh, new faces and stunning style setters, individuals who epitomize the brand’s image of style, substance and youthful exuberance.
Meet WAGW CDO’s Style Ambassadors for 2012 – fashion enthusiast Angela Fortich, athlete-next-door Adlai Rivera and passionate model Essa Santos.
WAGW’s Young Style Ambassadors of Cagayan de Oro were featured wearing the brand’s holiday collection. Inspired by oriental high-build embroideries, opulent fabric and immensely decorative details, a collection of ornate grunge is born.
* Left to right – Fortich, Rivera, Santos
My dear friend Maria Teresa Angela “Essa” Santos was born and raised in Cagayan de Oro. An AB Philosophy graduate of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Essa is currently based in Cebu City as a marketing associate. Even before this WAGW endorsement, pretty Essa is already a prominent fashionista in CDO. Essa is a vibrant individual who is passionate about the arts, books and music. Essa balances her larger-than-life personality with her classic minimalist sense of style, opting for simple and timeless pieces with a touch of romantic and feminine details like lace, soft fabrics and dainty accessories.
Angela Ma Eldora Fortich may look quiet and reserved at first glance but she is down-to-earth and approachable. Adventurous and one who loves exploring beaches and mountains, Angela pushes the boundaries of her personal style and can go from fun and flirty one day to poised and chic the next. Angela believes that style should be limitless and most importantly fun.
Adlai Marcel Rivera may be known as a sporty individual who is in his element in the great big outdoors but he also knows how to have fun in the kitchen where he likes to hone his culinary skills. A soccer player, he likes to lay back, kick off the cleats and slip into something comfortable and preppy. On a typical day, you will find this athlete-next-door with striking good looks in his style staples, which consist of tapered shorts, slip-on shoes and a trendy statement shirt.
* Kryz Uy
During the launch of WAGW Centrio Mall branch, WAGW Creative Director Kryz Uy said that the “collection brings about feelings of luxury and elegance juxtaposed with rawness and distressed modernity, making use of stunning brocades against laser cut leather, metallic spikes on elegant satin, heavy embellishments on figure skating spandex, giving the wearer a sense of refinement, excessiveness and class with today’s edge and sense of self-power.”
* The beautiful Uy ladies
WAGW Founder and CEO Diane Uy also shared how thrilled they were to launch their second store in Cagayan de Oro City while WAGW Marketing Director Jacklyn Uy said that the Young Ambassadors of Style will now be a yearly selection of the city’s shining style stars and notable personalities to launch the much awaited holiday collection of What A Girl Wants and What A Girl Wants Man.
Thank you so much to What A Girl Wants and What A Girl Wants Man, the Uy family, to Jaja and Vanessa of Bigseed PR and to all my friends in the media who came. Special thanks to all my blogger-friends, too! That event truly was a great experience especially since CDO’s fashion scene is brighter and more remarkable, upbeat than ever before.
Congratulations WAGW and big cheers to Essa, Angela and Adlai!
* Kryz Uy (middle) with the ladies of Bigseed PR – Vanessa and Jaja
What A Girl Wants has a total of 10 boutiques in Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Metro Manila (by February 2013). WAGW aims to satisfy the shopping needs of vibrant and edgy girls and boys ages 18 to 30 who exude street chic by providing them with a wide selection of apparel, bags, footwear and accessories to further emphasize their personal style. With new arrivals in limited pieces in store every Friday, collections are always up-to-date with current fashion trends.
WAGW Ayala Centrio Mall is their second store in Cagayan de Oro and is open from 10am-9pm. The other WAGW branch in CDO can be found at Limketkai Mall.
* all photos courtesy of WAGW and One Happy Story Photography
Related Images:
Mindanaoan is a multi-awarded blogger, content creator, seasoned social media strategist and publicist with undeniably successful track record. 2012 International Visitor Leadership Program (for global leaders) alumnus and O visa grantee (for people with extraordinary skills and who have risen to the top of their field). Avid traveler and a proud relief operations volunteer. Regular resource person for social media, blogging and content creation. Available for work and travel – [email protected]
